LeBron James definitely ruffled some feathers before his first game with the 76ers when he was seen mimicking a golf swing during the national anthem. That move even got U.S. President Donald Trump fired up. More than a week after that whole scene, Trump found an unlikely ally in Charles Barkley, who just straight up called James’ approach to the anthem “very disrespectful.”
Chuck Doesn’t Hold Back on LeBron’s Anthem Swing
While Barkley was clear he doesn’t give “any attention” to what President Trump says, he absolutely sided with the president on one thing: James’ golf swing during the anthem was “inappropriate.” Barkley jumped on SiriusXM NBA Radio to explain exactly why he would never do something like that. “I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all,” Barkley said. “But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing a golf swing in the middle of the anthem.” It’s classic Barkley, telling it like it is, even if it means agreeing with someone he usually wouldn’t.
Respect for the Anthem, Even During Protest
Barkley’s stance isn’t about shutting down protest. He explained that he believes anyone should be allowed to protest during the national anthem. However, he also emphasized that he “always” stands for the anthem himself. Why? He points to American values like freedom of speech and his deep respect for military members. “I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important,” Barkley said. “We live in the greatest country ever. You can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem.”
Back in 2016, Barkley talked about preferring “action” over national anthem protests. He questioned the long-term impact, asking, “Once you get off your knee, like, ‘Okay, what are you doing?’ Because football season is going to be over soon. And the question is: How long do you do it? When is it over?’” The source doesn’t say James was protesting on October 20, but Barkley made it clear he would have handled that anthem moment totally differently. It just goes to show you, even legends have strong opinions on what happens before the game starts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply